Help me solve a problem I hate about my bronco!

[Trappey74]

My original paint 74 had the original mirrors taken off and the "tow" mirrors put on which weren't even installed in the right place on the door. I absolutely HATE these mirrors on it and want to go back to the original style. What are my odds of patching the current mirror holes and getting close on matching paint well enough to not stand out terribly. Here is a pic of what I'm working with. The holes left from current mirrors would be pretty small I think.

 

[jmangi62]

Well, you're gonna have 4 holes to fill, which isn't that big a deal, I welded some holes in my front grill, the biggest pain is gonna be the paint, if it was me, I would paint the whole door, but maybe a good shop could blend in the color, I'm just a novice painter so that's just my 02, good luck.

 

[SteveL]

The extra hole makes me wonder if it had later eb mirrors on it that were adjustable from inside the cab. I think the later years might of had something like that. Also it looks like the front hole for the stock mirror is oversized and might need some work. Patching the small holes should be easy but matching the paint could be tough. I would go to a body shop and see what they think.

 

[Trappey74]

My local body shop said he could do it but the paint wouldn't match up exactly. I don't want to paint the whole door bc i am wanting to keep the original paint. I am wondering if the four holes from the current mirrors would be small enough that even some paint that isn't quite exact would be very noticeable.

 

[Brent13]

Pretty much the same thing was done to my Bronco. I simply plugged the holes with some SS screws. Does it look great, no, but I can live with it.

 

[Lawndart]

I had same dilemma on my '67 F100. I installed the original mirrors and put low profile screws in the holes remaining from the other mirrors. You could paint the screw heads to semi match your paint.

 

[Trappey74]

I had same dilemma on my '67 F100. I installed the original mirrors and put low profile screws in the holes remaining from the other mirrors. You could paint the screw heads to semi match your paint.

That's the same thing my body shop said but man that would drive me crazy too I think.

 

[nvrstuk]

Then again....these are 50 year old vehicles and sometimes we just have to "adjust" our level of OCD ... lol

 

[Slowleak]

I would pull the mirror off to see how the holes look. If they are flat and clean you can probably fill them from the back and touch up the paint pretty easily. Not as good as welding but it will keep the original paint.

You already have holes exposed from the missing factory mirror so it's going to look better.....

 

[Rustytruck]

In 1974 there was the remote mirror option my 1974 Bronco Explorer had it on the drivers side.

As for removing the ugly aftermarket mirrors just get some flat screws and paint the screw heads. it will hide them better than trying to patch the doors. with ginger poly metallic paint patching just the holes will end up being an eyesore.

 

[ObscureMachine]

I saw a guy who just took some black grommet like plugs and put it the holes. Almost kinda looked like they belong there, at least to a non-bronco person. Bronco people will immediately understand.

 

[Lawndart]

That's the same thing my body shop said but man that would drive me crazy too I think.

I understand to a degree however there isn't a solution if you want to keep your paint original and you do not want to plug the holes. I was/use to be crazier about stuff like that. I've relaxed a bit and really, I don't even notice them anymore on my F100.

 

[661buster1963]

stainless steel button head allen machine screws in the hole, tighten from the inside and call it done.

 

[BGBronco]

I'd take the mirrors off and see what your dealing with. Rather than go to a traditional body shop, I'd go to one of those touch up guys that does small dealer repair jobs. Won't be perfect but will only take a few hours and won't cost much.

 

[WRG]

Cap plugs an option?

 

[76YETI]

LMC Carries those, I used them for my tire carrier holes and they look pretty good, but my rig is black.

 

[Joe473]

Lowes carries them too. Along with stainless ones

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[No Hay]

Cap plugs an option?

Yep, cap plugs, painted as close as possible.

They look better than the stub (hanging out an inch) I cut off the EB steering column collar.

Did the same with the Vette luggage rack (hanging off the back). Although I'm sure the NCRS folks FREAKED out when they saw the plugs.

 

[half cab]

I think the gaping holes from the factory mirror look worse then the holes the west coast mirror's will leave.

 

[RPM289]

Go by a good paint store with the camera for "paint" they can mix a pint to match yours even faded. Some can just use a small part like gas door etc and match to it. It will be closer than just getting correct paint code and mixing it.